Stratigraphy

The stratigraphy of the Suriname-Guyana Basin reflects two-phases of geodynamic evolution.

Phase one, the Central Atlantic (CA) phase can be subdivided into two mega-sequences corresponding to a rift-to-drift history. This rift phase, early to middle Jurassic, is equated to a syn-rift sequence penetrated by the wells I/23-1X and Kankantrie-01, both located on the Suriname shelf. The Central Atlantic drift mega-sequence relates to late Jurassic to early Cretaceous deposits comprising of carbonate and clastic sediments only penetrated by well A2-1 offshore Suriname. The end of this period is marked by an Aptian-Albian unconformity, also called the ‘Break-up’ Unconformity, as it marks the beginning of the Equatorial Atlantic drift apart of Africa and South America.
Phase two, the Equatorial-Atlantic (EA) phase has a drift/passive margin history.
The Equatorial Atlantic Drift mega-sequence developed as a monoclinal wedge of sediments which built out over the continental shelf from late Cretaceous to present day. Several transgressive-regressive cycles can be recognized, but the sequence is overall progradational in nature from the Turonian-Coniacian to the present day, presenting a general basin-ward advance of the shelf-edge. Several unconformities, formed due to fluctuating sea level and episodes of basin margin uplifts, are recognized.